MIAMI, FLORIDA: November 15, 2016. Aer Lingus is to begin flying between Dublin and Miami with an A330 next year.

Beginning on September 2017, the first-ever service between the two hubs will operate three times a week and be MIA's 24th European destination and the fourth international route launch for 2017.

Dublin also will be MIA's first pre-clearance for trans-Atlantic traffic - enabling customers to arrive in Miami as domestic passengers.

Aer Lingus CEO Stephen Kavanagh commented: "We are delighted to announce the further expansion of our transatlantic network with the addition of Dublin to Miami and increased frequency to Los Angeles, Orlando and Chicago - improving connectivity to North America."

Currently the U.S. is Ireland's top export destination, importing 22 percent of Irish goods valued at €20 billion in 2014 including pharma products, organic chemicals, optical/medical instruments and beverages. U.S. goods exports to Ireland include pharmaceuticals, electrical components and equipment, computers and peripherals, aircraft, and optical/medical instruments.

There are approximately 700 U.S.-owned firms based in Ireland employing 170,000 people in manufacturing of high-tech electronics, computer products, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, retailing, banking and finance.

"We are extremely pleased to add a Four-Star carrier of Aer Lingus's caliber to our growing roster of airlines," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio González. "We look forward to developing our new connection with Ireland and to strengthening our ties all across Europe."

In addition to Aer Lingus, MIA said it would add several more airlines in 2017 to its current total of 107, the highest of any U.S airport.

In February the Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris will begin four weekly flights to Guadalajara and daily flights to Mexico City; WOW will launch thrice-weekly service to Reykjavík in April; and Italian airline Meridiana will begin two weekly flights to Milan in the same month.